April 21, 2026 Last week, in the April 14th edition of Boating Industry Canada News Week Digest, we lead with the headline, “Boating Ontario Association Announces CEO Transition as Rick Layzell Steps Down”. For many years, Rick Layzell has led the association with energy, dedication and determination. Perhaps most importantly, he has gathered and maintained a…
April 21, 2026 Ontario’s boating industry applauds Minister Mike Harris and his team on the completion of revised Water lot Lease Agreements for Ontario marinas. With dozens of Boating Ontario members relying on these agreements to manage fixed operations, moving forward with the extension is critical to ensuring marinas can operate reliably throughout the boating season. “Our government is taking action to…
April 21, 2026 Godfrey Marine, manufacturer of premium Godfrey pontoon boats and Hurricane deck boats, legendary innovator in versatile deck boat designs, just announced the launch of its Pontoon Dock Assist — a proprietary-engineered docking technology purpose engineered to solve one of the biggest challenges for pontoon owners: having the necessary precise control and maneuverability for pontoons at…
April 21, 2026 ICOMIA is delighted to welcome the China Boat Industry & Trade Association (CBITA) as a Sustaining Member. The China Boat Industry & Trade Association (CBITA), operating under the China Association of National Shipbuilding Industry (CANSI), encompasses entities engaged in vessel research and development, manufacturing, maintenance, sales, and related services. CBITA is dedicated to advancing sectoral planning,…
April 21, 2026 April 20–24, 2026 International Marine Service Technician Week started Monday, April 20 and we can’t wait to celebrate the backbone of the industry! This holiday is meant to bring awareness and recognition to the hard-working professionals who keep boating safe, reliable, and enjoyable. Thank your techs with us! Each day this week, ABYC will feature marine…
April 14, 2026 I have not seen any specific numerical value to express “wealth effect” but there is no doubt that as the value of people’s real estate has risen, there is a “wealth effect” that spurs on consumer spending. When a family has bought a summer property for “X” and then discovers that it…
April 14, 2026 Gary J. Brickell, founder and commodore, announces the launch of The Great Canadian Loop Association (GCLA), a grassroots boating group created to inspire owners of vessels from 20′ cuddy cabins to 50′ yachts to untie from their marinas and explore an epic 3,000 km freshwater cruising route around the Great Lakes and adjacent waterways. Born from conversations…
April 14, 2026 By Brian Goodwin, Director, Standards and Compliance When the ABYC Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Project Technical Committee met to review ABYC T‑32, Design and Construction in Consideration of Aquatic Invasive Species, one question from the resource management community rose quickly to the forefront: What specific steps have manufacturers taken to reduce the risk of transporting…
April 14, 2026 Sharrow Engineering just announced that it is scaling production of its patented Sharrow™ Propeller through a collaboration with Ford Motor Company’s Advanced Industrial Technology & Platforms (ATP) team, using advanced 3D sand-casting techniques thanks to connections made through the Michigan Central innovation ecosystem. The result is a significant reduction in production timelines, shortening what used to…
April 14, 2026 On Thursday, April 9th, 2026, The Boating Ontario Association announced that CEO Rick Layzell will be stepping down from his role at the end of 2026. Rick will transition out of the position and into semi-retirement as the calendar turns to 2027. During his tenure, Layzell played a key role in strengthening Boating Ontario’s position as…
April 7, 2026 On Thursday, March 26, I attended the Boating Ontario Regional meeting in Orillia. It was the last of the eight meetings the association held this spring. I took lots of notes because I was planning to write about this. But, I didn’t need to take any notes at all as it turned…
April 7, 2026 The Canada Strong Pass is back for summer 2026! The Government of Canada is offering free lockage and a 25% discount on fees for camping and overnight stays from June 19 to September 7, 2026 inclusive. Free lockage During the Canada Strong Pass period, free lockage will be available for boats, canoes and kayaks travelling…
April 7, 2026 Hutcheson to Lead Next Chapter of Growth and Culture-Driven ImpactOn April 1st, Zach Hutcheson stepped into the Chief Executive Officer role at Correct Craft. Hutcheson succeeds Bill Yeargin, who served as CEO for the past two decades. A long-time Correct Craft leader and previously the company’s Chief Financial Officer, Hutcheson steps into the role following…
April 7, 2026 Freedom Boat Club, the world’s largest boat club and a business of Brunswick Corporation (NYSE: BC), recently hosted its 2026 Freedom Forum annual franchise conference in Tampa, Florida. This year’s event marked a significant milestone for the franchise network bringing together franchise partners from across the globe to celebrate a year of exceptional…
April 7, 2026 Sail Canada is pleased to announce that 24-member sailing clubs and schools from across the country have been awarded a combined total of $80,750 as part of Sail Canada’s 2026 “Sailing for All” initiative. This funding is courtesy of Sport Canada’s Community Sport for All Initiative. “We are grateful for the continued support from Sport…
April 7, 2026 Thomas Groves, Director of Marketing at Legend Boats, has been named an honouree in the Boating Industry 40 Under 40. Presented annually by Boating Industry, the 40 Under 40 program recognizes rising leaders from across North America who are making a strong impact on the recreational boating industry. Honourees are selected based on…
March 31, 2026 I was surprised (in a positive way), at the Boating Ontario Regional meeting last Thursday, March 26 when CEO Rick Layzell asked the room how many attendees were looking for techs. The audience was largely marina people and only four or five hands went up. ‘Not very many from the audience of…
March 31, 2026 Yamaha Motor Canada is proud to introduce its newest group of Yamaha Elite Dealers! This year, 42 dealers from across the country have achieved Elite status, with 16 of those dealers recognized for five years in a row*. To achieve Elite status, Yamaha dealers undergo a thorough year-long performance evaluation of all areas of their business,…
March 31, 2026 Brunswick Corporation (NYSE: BC), the global leader in marine technology, has been named to Fast Company’s prestigious list of the World’s Most Innovative Companies of 2026. This year’s list shines a spotlight on businesses that are shaping industry and culture through their innovations. “Innovation is at the heart of everything we do at Brunswick…
March 24, 2026 Last week I received an email about a new initiative from Performance Sailcraft that aims to tackle one of the biggest barriers in grassroots sailing: the upfront cost of dinghy ownership. The company has launched “Magic”, a new financing program designed to make dinghy racing more affordable for sailors and clubs. The model…